The effects of the fast track land resettlement programme on family structures and livelihoods : a case study of resettled households in the Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe.

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Abstract

Social relations are valued by many in rural settings as they provide strong sources of social
support among rural households. Barr (2004) and Dekker (2004a) indicate that such strong
social relations exist mainly in small villages where kin and family members stay close to
each other. They both highlight the importance of kin networks for most rural families to
strengthen their social capital and resource-pooling strategies. Through strong and reliable
social networks, people can work together for a common good and improve their well-being.
It is therefore important for rural households to live close by their kin and friends so that they
can pool resources and help each other in times of need. However, following land reform in
Zimbabwe, many people left their communal homes and moved to the resettlement areas.
These movements impacted on family structures, social networks as well as the livelihood
strategies that were established in the communal areas over the years.
This study investigates how the movement to resettlement areas has affected the day-to-day
lives of the resettled families. This question is explored through a case study of resettled households at Dellos farm, in the Felixburg resettlement area in Zimbabwe. Given that their existing social networks were disrupted with the resettlement at Dellos farm, households
established new social networks which they now rely on in their daily lives. Although these
new networks are not based on kinship, which is regarded as a strong source of social support, they have proven to have great influence on people’s livelihoods at the farm. Regardless of the limited support households received from the government and other institutions, their social networks allowed them to improve their livelihoods and in turn improve their social and economic status.